Lafayette Bakery
3672 The Barnyard, Suite E22, Carmel
(831) 915-6286, www.lafayettebakery.com
Between the fresh baking French baguettes and chocolate meringues and tarts and croissants and eclairs and brioches, the place smells what Americans call “amazing.” Add in rich French lilts from the entire staff and you know why they like to say, “This pastry speaks French.” You could wear a blindfold and still find this place, new last summer, purely by scent and sound.